Storage device for mouth guard

ABSTRACT

A storage device for a mouth guard or the like, the storage device including a band adapted to be secured to a limb and a storage compartment formed on the band.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/875,620 filed on Sep. 3, 2010, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/239,958 filed on Sep. 4, 2009; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage device for mouth guards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In many sporting events, particularly contact sports, it is now usual for participants to utilize a mouth guard to protect the gums and teeth of the participant. The mouth guards are worn during the sporting activity but are frequently removed during stoppages in the activity or when the participant is temporarily inactive.

When a month guard is removed, the participants will either hold the mouth guard or find a location which it can be stored. These might include being lodged in the face mask, placed in a pocket, placed on a bench, in a spare shoe, behind the ear or within the clothing used by the participant. None of these are particularly sanitary and are also prone to damage or inadvertent loss.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, the present invention provides a storage device for a mouth guard that includes a band that may be secured to the participants body. A storage compartment is formed on the band and sized to receive a mouth guard.

Preferably, the compartment is in the form of a pocket and the band is sized to encompass a limb of the participants, such as a wrist or ankle.

As a further preference, the band has a fastening along overlapping edges of the band to permit adjustment of the size of the band.

Typically, the band is formed from an elasticized material or a neoprene and the compartment is secured to one surface of the band by stitching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the storage device.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the storage device.

FIG. 3 is a exploded view showing the components of the storage device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the storage device in use on the arm of an athlete.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a storage device in use on the lower leg of an athlete.

FIG. 6 is front view of an alternative embodiment of storage device.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the storage device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the storage device of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring therefore to FIG. 1, a storage device generally indicated 10 includes a band 12 of elasticized material. Typically, the material may be an elasticized towelling or a similar absorbent material that is formed from a length of the material with adjacent edges sewn to one another as indicated at 14 in FIG. 2 to form a continuous annulus. The annulus is sized so as to be a comfortable but snug fit over a limb of an athlete, such as the wrist shown in FIG. 4 or an ankle as shown in FIG. 5. Naturally, different sized bands 12 may be formed to suit different applications, but generally are sized so as not to impede movement of the athlete and to be a snug fit on the athlete.

A compartment 16 is formed on the outer surface of the band 12. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the compartment is formed as a pocket from a rectangular panel of material 18, that is sewn along three edges to the band 12. The free edge allows a mouth guard to be inserted within the pocket formed by the panel 18 and retained snugly within the pocket in a secure manner. It will be appreciated that the compartment may be formed as a simple loop sewn to the band at opposite ends rather than an enclosed pocket to allow the mouth guard to be held by the elastic nature of the material against the band. Similarly, alternative materials may be used such as an neoprene. Preferably at least the material of panel 18 is antimicrobial, although the band 12 itself may also be treated so as to be antimicrobial.

In use, the storage device 10 is slipped onto the limb of the participant, either the wrist shown in FIG. 4 or the ankle as shown is FIG. 5, where it does not interfere with the normal equipment used by the participant. The material used for the storage device 10 is compatible with materials normally found in sports clothing and is not objectionable from a safety perspective.

With the device in place, the mouth guard may simply be inserted into the compartment 16 where it is secured during the normal movement of the athlete. Moreover, the absorbent nature of the material maintains the mouth piece dry and absorbs any fluids that may be on the mouth piece. The snug nature of the pocket formed by the compartment 16 means that the athlete may move around freely without the potential loss of the mouth guard so that it is always readily available when needed.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5 through 7, the stitching 14 is replaced by a hook and loop fastening 20, commonly referred to as Velcro, along one edge of the band 12. As shown in FIG. 7, the releasable fastening 20 provided by the Velcro allows the band 12 to be securely wrapped around the athletes limb so as to a snug fit. The compartment 16 is secured to one face so it is always directed outwardly from the limb and is available for storage of the mouth guard.

It will be appreciated that the storage device 10 is readily removed and can be washed after each use to maintain the sanitary conditions. Moreover, when removed, the device serves as a storage for the mouth guard ensuring it does not come into contact with mud and soiled equipment as might otherwise be the case.

The compartment may be sized to suit different needs. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the material 18 is enlarged to extend around a major portion of the band 12, offering more choices for locating the mouth guard. In this embodiment, as referred to in the description of FIGS. 1 to 3, the material 18 is sewn to the band 12 along opposite lateral edges, so as to define an enlarged loop rather than an enclosed pocket of a mouth guard but other devices may be stored within the pocket, such as ear plugs, nose clips, goggles or whistle, where intermittent use is envisaged. 

1. A storage device for a mouth guard or the like, said storage device including a band adapted to be secured to a limb and a storage compartment formed on said band.
 2. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is a pocket.
 3. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is a loop.
 4. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said band is elastic.
 5. A storage device according to claim 4 wherein said band is a continuous annulus.
 6. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said band has a releasable fastening to allow opposite ends to be secured to one another from an annulus.
 7. A storage device according to claim 6 wherein said band is elastic.
 8. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said band is absorbent.
 9. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said band is made of neoprene.
 10. A storage device according to claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is formed from a panel secured to said band.
 11. A storage device according to claim 10 wherein said panel is rectangular and secured along three edges to provide a pocket.
 12. A storage device according to claim 10 wherein said panel is secured along opposite edges to provide a loop.
 13. A storage device according to claim 10 wherein material of said panel is antimicrobial. 